LAGOS, August 8, 2025 — Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is staring down a potential nationwide blackout as the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) block diesel deliveries to major depots in Lagos, Kaduna, and Delta.
The blockade—triggered by a heated dispute with IHS Towers over alleged diesel theft—has sparked fears of widespread service disruptions for millions of Nigerians who depend on mobile networks for banking, emergency services, and even national security coordination.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has sounded the alarm, warning that over 16,000 base stations, most of which rely on diesel generators due to Nigeria’s unstable power supply, are at risk of shutting down. “This is sabotage of critical national infrastructure,” said ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo, urging urgent intervention from security agencies.
In response, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and IHS Towers are working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security bodies to broker a resolution. The NCC underscored the sector’s fragility, revealing that the industry already suffers over 1,100 fiber optic cuts weekly—alongside frequent thefts—making the blockade a potentially devastating blow.
NUPENG and NOGASA insist their actions are justified, citing unpaid debts and contract breaches by IHS Towers. “We are protecting the rights of our members, not sabotaging the nation,” countered NUPENG President Prince Williams Akporeha.
With negotiations stalling and tempers flaring, the specter of a telecom blackout looms large. Experts warn that if the diesel flow is not restored swiftly, Nigeria could face a crippling communications breakdown—disrupting everything from cashless transactions to security operations—plunging the nation into an avoidable but dangerous digital silence.
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